I know there aren't too many people out there who carry on their pets when flying, but that doesn't make [[Delta Air Lines | Delta's]] gouge any less newsworthy. The airline raised its pet-in-cabin fee to $150 one-way, meaning a round-trip flight with your little dog or cat could cost an unthinkable $300 round-trip. As our friends at Airfarewatchdog.com report, the fee for taking your pet aboard could actually cost more than your ticket!

Airfarewatchdog founder George Hobica also notes that since Delta allows only one carry-on (plus a personal item), your pet, along with that $150 fee each way, is the only carry-on you can bring. But, he says, "Delta realizes that many pet owners will pay almost anything to have their dogs and cats with them in the safety of the cabin rather than in the hold." This, of course, is the pervading wisdom behind most fees implemented this year: Find something a passenger can't avoid doing, like checking a bag, and charge for it.

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This has been a rough week for animals on planes—just a couple of days ago I told you about a cheetah loose in a Delta cargo hold, and now this. Even though only a small portion of the flying public [[Pet Travel | travels with animals]], I'd still like to know what you all think about pet travel. So please take our short, two-question survey, or leave a comment below. Thanks!